Father and son team Brian and Michael Yates, East Logan, Castle Douglas, have again won the South West Scotland Grassland Society’s annual forage competition.

Their winning sample produced an analysis of DM 30.93, ME 12.44, P17.06, with a total mark of 102.8.

Judge William Fleming, area sales manager, Scotland and NE England, Germinal GB, had the task of selecting the winners from 41 open dairy entries which averaged DM36.44, ME 11.68, P15.96; and 19 open beef entries that produced average analysis of DM 31.81, ME 11.23, P13.27.

There were also 13 big bale entries, which averaged DM 36.5, ME 11.3, P14.00; eight maize entries (DM 33.22, ME 11.52, P 8.06, starch 28.22); and seven whole crop samples (DM37.51, ME 10.10, P9.31, starch 28.16 %).

Leading Awards

Ayrshire – W and A Hogarth, Knockrivock, Saltcoats, Ayrshire (DM 60, ME 11.8, P 17.4).

Dumfries – K and I Millar and Sons Ltd, Trailflat, Lochmaben, Lockerbie (DM 40, ME 12.1, P 16).

Stewartry – L Davidson and Sons, Halmyre, Haugh of Urr, Castle Douglas (DM 43.2, ME 12.1, P 16.4).

Wigtownshire – Alec and Sheila Shankland, Portencalzie, Kirkcolm, Stranraer (DM 54.3, ME 12.1, P 17.9).

Young farmers dairy – 1, Fraser Kennedy, Chapelcroft, Lockerbie (DM29.6, ME 11.7, P14.7, total mark: 91.5); 2, Ross Boyd, Rockhallhead, Collin, Dumfries (DM 29.1, ME 11.9, P15.1, total mark: 87.7); 3, Ewan Paul, Griegsland, Johnstone Bridge, Lockerbie (DM 38.6, ME 11.6, P 15.5, total mark: 84.8).

Young farmers beef – 1, Ian Carlisle, Nether Dargavel, Dumfries.

Open dairy – 1, Brian and Michael Yates, East Logan, Castle Douglas (DM30.93, ME 12.44, P17.06, total mark 102.87); 2, Cowhill Trust, farm manager, Scott McGill, Kerricks, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries (DM38, ME 12.1, P17.5, total mark 102); 3, Douglas Hogarth, Knockrivoch, Saltcoats, Ayrshire (DM60, ME 11.8, P17.4, total mark 101).

Open beef – 1, Sam Carlisle, Nether Dargavel, Dumfries (DM 30.5, ME 12.1, P14.3, total marks 92.55); 2, Andrew Nelson, Cogarth, Parton, Castle Douglas (DM 30.8, ME 12.0, P12.1, total marks 89.5); 3, Richard McCornick. Barnbackle, Lochfoot, Dumfries (DM 29.5, ME 11.78, P15.68, total marks 88.75).

Maize – 1, JG Maxwell and Sons, Netherwood Mains, Dumfries (DM 35.24, ME 12.24, P8.7, starch 31.23; 2, David Yates, Meikle Firthhead, Dalbeattie (DM 35.5, ME 11.5, P7.3, starch 30.5); 3, Cowhill Trust, (manager: Stuart Neish) Muirside, Dumfries (DM 44.5, ME 11, P8.2, starch 24.4).

Whole crop – 1, Colin Mair, Townhead of Mouswald, Dumfries (DM30.19, ME 9.92, P8.75, starch 35.26 %; 2, James Sloan, Dormieston, Trabboch, Mauchline (DM 36.55, ME 9.78, P 9.97, starch 34.29 %); 3, Andrew Gemmell, Turnerhill, Mauchline (DM27.56, ME 10.4, P8.88, starch 39.77 %).

Big bale – 1, Richard McCornick, Barnbackle, Lochfoot, Dumfries (DM 50.54, ME 12.26, P13.8); 2, Robert Campbell, Low Holehouse, Galston, East Ayrshire (DM 49.3, ME 11.1, P17); 3, W Cruickshank and Son, West Mains, Collin, Dumfries (DM 33.9, ME 11.5, P12.7).

Contractors prize – 1, Drew Watson, D Watson, Agri Services; 2, Peter Cowan, East Lanegate Farm, Lochmaben.

Michael Milligan attention to detail award) – Fraser Kennedy, Chapelcroft, Lockerbie.

Best new entrant – Richard McCornick. Barnbackle, Lochfoot, Dumfries.

Best silage overall – Brian and Michael Yates, East Logan, Castle Douglas (DM 30.93, ME 12.44, P 17.06, total mark 102.8).